How to evict tenants who are smoking marijuana

Question

Hi BP,

Background: I rented a SFH to Tenants A (upstairs unit) and Tenants B (downstairs unit). Shortly after the house was rented out, Tenants B called and said they have been consistently smelling weed and it will be a problem for them because they work for the government and take regular drug tests. They were also concerned with excessive noise very late at night. We got together with Tenants A and B and discussed these two issues and layed out a plan that everyone would work with. Unfortunately, after 2 months and more discussions, Tenants B said nothing changed and they wanted to move out.

What are the steps I will need to take to evict tenants who have been smoking marijuana and making excessive noise? The property is in Prince George's County, Maryland. Tenants A still never admitted any of this. Tenants B said they have evidence of everything, which I will be asking for.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Michael J. · Answer

If your lease has a clause then talk to a eviction lawyer in your area and see how hard it is to evict for such a violation. Some areas are hard to evict for anything other than no rent payment.

On a side note, I don’t smoke weed, but there are methods that don’t cause the typical weed smell like vaping or edibles that would fix the smell part at least.

From what I have read you are not affected by secondhand weed smoke so going through walls and windows it definitely would not cause someone to fail a drug test.

The smoking tenants are selfish jerks. Too bad you can’t evict someone for being a idiot :)

Frank Procopio · Answer

You should have a rules and regulations page that goes along with your lease. That being said there has to be something in your lease about being a good neighbor etc that you can use. Highlight it and serve them a notice to vacate

Theresa Harris · Answer

If the lease states no smoking and mentions quiet hours or no loud noises, then give them notice that they are in violation of the lease.

Steve O. · Answer

@Yi Zhao try to find another tenant who smokes up.

Russell Brazil · Answer

Unless smoking is in the lease, there isn't really anything you can do. Having 10 grams or less of marijuana in Maryland is not a crime.

Yi Zhao · Answer

@Theresa Harris Unfortunately they have a one year lease that ends in September 2020

Theresa Harris · Answer

@Yi Zhao  If the tenants who are smoking pot and being loud are month to month, simply serve them with a notice that they need to move.

How to evict tenants who are smoking marijuana

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